Chiaroscuro Lighting in Film - Balancing Cinematic Light & Darkness
What is chiaroscuro? In this video on cinematic lighting techniques, we discuss the power of chiaroscuro lighting in film.
What is Chiaroscuro? ►► bit.ly/cs-light
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Chapters:
00:00 - What is Chiaroscuro Lighting?
00:19 - Chiaroscuro Meaning & Definition
00:49 - Origin of Chiaroscuro
01:44 - Usage in Cinema
02:34 - Chiaroscuro in Mid-Century
03:14 - Scene Examples
05:14 - Chiaroscuro Takeaways
Chiaroscuro Meaning: The term comes from the Italian words for “light” and “dark” - the perfect definition for a lighting style that mixes the two to great effect. Chiaroscuro lighting is a visually stunning technique that helps turn a two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional scene.
It was Renaissance painters like Caravaggio that mastered this technique long before filmmakers got their hands on it. But when they did, they thrived in it. In this video essay, we’ll trace the roots of chiaroscuro lighting from Caravaggio, through German Expressionism, Film Noir, and everything in between.
Like painting, cinema is (usually) a 2D medium. To add that third critical dimension, cinematic lighting can be used to create depth. Similar to how leading lines and shapes can guide the viewer’s eye to a perceived background in the distance, so too can light and shadow. In the early days of German Expressionism, cinematic lighting pushed the balance between light and dark to the extreme. The dark subject matter of these films could be enhanced by embracing shadows along with the light.
But beyond its ability to add dimensionality to the image, cinematic lighting techniques like chiaroscuro can also be used to emphasize the thematic questions posed in these films.
American filmmakers brought these cinematic lighting techniques to the gritty and pessimistic underworld in Film Noir classics. In these films, we find good characters led into corruption and the chiaroscuro lighting helped trap them in moral and existential dilemmas. Filmmakers figured out that there is tension between mixing light and shadow and have relied on the power of chiaroscuro lighting for over a century.
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Whenever I watch this channel The director and cinematographer inside me comes alive 😂😄
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Why do you think so? Lol we have the same name
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@@abhinavdevaraj1912 Kerala ??
Happy filming!
This is my absolute favorite type of atmospheric effect in film. As with all your videos, you covered the subject superbly.
Appreciate the feedback :)
Chiaroscuro is practically a major element in every film. Thanks studiobinder for educating us with the terminology!
happy to help!
StudioBinder, we love you! Infinite Thanks for all that you share. Best Wishes, everyone! :)
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This channel is one of the most high quality projects on KZhead!! A big thank you for learning us all these awesome information 💖
Thanks for watching! 💖
I was looking for this from long time, Very informative and definitely it helps to take my work on another level. Thank you so much.
Love the usage of the social network soundtrack. Top tier.
Glad you liked it!
I was not expecting to hear the _Castlevania 64_ rendition of Bloodlines at 4:38. That was a neat surprise!
Man I am sooo so glad to have come across your channel!! Your presentation makes it easy to understand basic film making And you take the mystery out of it. You guys inspire me to push my limits with confidence. And yes, I have subscribed to your channel, and I am thoroughly enjoying learning from StudioBinder. Thank you for your channel!❤️❤️❤️😸😸😸👈🏽
Love this, glad to hear our videos have been helping you!
That last quote was so good ❤❤
I haven't even heard of this term. That's awesome!
How do you guys not hav more views on your videos? Absolutely love them!
Chiaroscuro : This has become my favorite word while explaining art..
This content is pure gold. I love you ❤️
awesome & educative... helps a lot!! Peace....
Happy to help!
One of my favourite channels, very nice lessons ❤️
Happy to help!
very informative and insightful, thanks!!
Your channel is GOLD!
Cheers!
Oh god, I love lighting! Makes film so tactile, so engrossing
Without it, we'd be listening to radio 👌 You'd love our lighting techniques video on how filmmakers use the fill light! kzhead.info/sun/oZV-e7Cum4eJlJs/bejne.html
Thank you and have a great day.
have a great day :)
5:28 clearly a shining example of a very bright comment.
Thank you this helped me with an assignment
Deakins Everywhere 😁.....
Jordan Cronenweth everywhere :P
lives rent free in our heads haha
"How many shots from Roger Deakins should we include in every single StudioBinder video?" StudioBinder: "YES!"
Incredible Work ✌️
This is my favorite type of lighting!!
It's an excellent style!
Amazing resource!!!!
Another home-run video. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Awesome video!!
What an absolute treat!
This channel is brilliant 😎 deserves a 👍
Thank you Studio Binder!!💯👍🏼
Never a dull moment from StudioBinder
can't educate without entertaining ;)
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Enjoy! ❤
Honestly, thank you so much StudioBinder for everything
Thank you for watching!
Always informative
4:50 Ha, from "hi Joker" to actually Joker
😉
I love this Chanel!
This video is amazing 🤩
Best content on cinematography 👍🏻
Hope it helps!
Studio Binder in years & years of studying the doctrine of filmography, under knowledge from your channel I will make the most mind boggling films! & that’s on the universe! I’m projecting this through the divine laws of manifestation! Thank you
Happy filming!
thanks for breaking it down
Very much Informative...
That's the goal!
I swear to god you're the best Studio binder guys !! on my way to subscribe on your website :) thanks
Amazing lesson
Happy to help!
Good ❤️ Loved it
Good ❤
My favorite kind of lighting
StudioBinder always brings it. But this one... this one is especially terrific.
Terrific to hear!
Thank You so much (Italy)
Enjoy!
Painting and history. Today's lesson by StudioBinder is a little special. AWESOME.
Going old school :) We show in another video how Deakins was influenced by still photography in his lighting kzhead.info/sun/fp2waK2XkHZobH0/bejne.html
Off the subject, I'm a beginner filmmaker and I would like assistance in understanding how Snowfall season 3 - episode 8 Mel's downward spiral scene was made! This same technique was used in the movie Limitless when the protagonist was at a party. Please instruct me on how to create that technique; I really like!
Marvelous Montage
Cheers!
Yall are forever the GOAT
That's the goal :)
Great great video!
Thanks for watching!
World best information about lightning sir Thanksgiving
Hope it helps!
Superb video
Cheers!
When planning your shot or about to start production, do a shot liar where you think about the following things: The shot size The shot type The camera movement/angle. The equipment you'll be using The lens of your camera Frame rate Camera number: e.g. cam a, cam b. Shot numbers, shot 1, shot 2 etc. Other addtionals as well. Usually on a traditional shot list. The location Duration of the shot Description of the shot
1:22 did you mix in audio from the MIMEO and John Tilbury album "The Hands of Caravaggio"? Because if so, that's genius.
Awesome & Thanks :)
Glad you liked it!
Studio binder is the best. Don't stop.
not planning to!
I need to try these techniques in my next film 🎥
Aye I'm making a KZhead/Film group chat where we can Motivate, Lead, and Build each other up as Filmmakers, If you wanna join say "I'm In" Sh
@@devyntheeccentric4308 I’m in
Thank You
Fantastic video and great explanation! The Master and Shape of Water were swapped 🤓.
thank you
The best on ytb keep going
will do!
One of my favorite shots of Chiaroscuro is when Batman played by Michael Keaton in the 1989 movie steps from the dark and into the light and you see Batman eyes and face in all it's glory for the first time, to me that's one of the most iconic shots in cinema.
That's a great choice!
@@StudioBinder Oh thank you for that, Much appreciated.
I used the exact quote from da Vinci in a video of mine-a tutorial on how to light a scene in this fashion. works great for atmosphere and theme.
Has been a very effective concept long before film!
@@StudioBinder absolutely! Masters of the Renaissance. My favorite period for artwork
the free ebook is awesome
Glad you like it!
Nice chapter
Glad you liked it!
why do i keep watching these, i don't even ever plan to work on film
same here man
They're for film lovers and filmmakers alike 👌
One day, I'm sure you will
Thanks!
Happy to help!
Thanks
Thanks for watching!
I caught a mistake at 5:26 the shaped of water is labeled as the master and the master is labeled as the shaped of water. other than that, this channel is awesome.
Thanks for the notice!
You are the best.
Doing what we can!
Great
Chiaroscuro makes every Film Shot A Painting. And turned Any Movie into a Masterpiece.
Apocalypse Now is on my top 10 list of all time, because of the dark shadows and the bright light!
awesome video! what music did you use for the intro?
'' Today we're going to show you how image-makers use light and cheddar to create visual depth''
$$$ 😝
The production value it is just out of this world, I'm not cinematographer but I love cinema. and I fucking miss going to movie theater, the last movie I watched in cinema was 1917, and It makes me so sad that I've probably missed many masterpieces during this pandemic
same; the experience is just not the same watching new films at home
Caravaggio was master of tenebrism. It's different from chiaroscuro. The former is more dramatic in contrast with background and foreground separation. Secondly, the lit part is also noticeable in contrast with chiaroscuro element in it.
The labels for "The Master" and "The Shape of Water" got exchanged at 5:26 !!
Thanks for the heads up!
Haha I was wondering who would catch this
Its good..
Not my industry at all, but I love this channel. Every video is so fascinating!!! #Hooked
They're for anyone that wants to be educated and entertained ❤
Please make a video on how to be a Cinematographer. Especially how to make Dinosaurs like that of Steven Spielberg's movies : Jurassic World duology.
Great video! But some film credits at the bottom left are incorrect. Hope to see them all correct next time.
They will be!
Can anyone name the music used at 0:22? I love it so much!!!
Could you please help us on..Neo noir and what it was.
What's the first film with the swimmer and city backdrop?
I can't believe this content is free😶
That's not changing!
Great video! It´s like a film school for everyone. What´s the name of the song at 0:29? Is it from Artlist?
What's the name of the song at 0:20 ? :) Too short to shazam it !
A Familiar Taste - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (from The Social Network soundtrack)
@@tandlauer A Glowing Light, A Promise - Makeup and Vanity Set
What is the name of the song that starts playing at 30 seconds?!? I NEED to know
Need suggestions from filmmakers!! What should I be planning when my script is in production? The casting, locations and everything will be arranged depending on the script. We already have post production people. Should I just wait for the script or is there anything I should be planning? Thank you for your time
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How come the links in the description are not accessible? Does anybody meet the same problem?
So roger deakins uses this style in most of his films i guess. Thanks for the video. The examples through painting was quite... ARTFUL!
artfully done we hope
🔥🔥🔥
Wheres the shot in the middle at 0:05 from?
do a video on directing style of bong joon ho
Thanks for the suggestion!
I love chiaroscuro cinematography in noir movies